Grand Theft Autumn

Chapter 16

Patrick's POV
As I walked along in the field, I let myself take a few deep breaths. I did that every time they let me outside. I had always taken fresh air for granted- a lot of people do. But the smell in the building was horrible. It smelled like smoke, drugs, and sweat. Every so often, I would hear a gun shot, or even a scream.

It was best just to ignore those things.

I turned around, taking in my surroundings. There was a black van in the parking lot, and a yellow Subaru. I looked at the Subaru, watching as a woman, a man, and two little girls got out of the car. Both of the little girls were holding flowers, and the woman held a small stuffed animal. They made their way to the bulletin board, and looked at it. I realized that I was probably being creepy, just staring at them, so I continued.

I was going to visit Lukas. K insisted on it, and I knew the message he was trying to send. I made my way slowly, reading the names on the gravestones.

I knew where exactly Lukas was buried, I had memorized the plot number. I memorized what it said, how it looked.

It has been years since I have last been here. I remember when I was here the last. It was the first time I visited. I sat there, and cried. I cried for hours.

Then, I swore to never come back.

But here I was.

The gravestone looked the same, aside from a little pit of moss that had grown on the stone. My heart hurt at the sight of the name, and the date.

Closing my eyes, I tried to remember him. I tried to remember what he looked like, what he sounded like.

There was a reason that I left. There was a reason that I never spoke of the gang. There was a reason that I disliked coming back here.

I sat down with my back against the gravestone. I felt the grass under my fingers, and realized that Lukas' grave was the only grave that didn't have flowers in this row.

If I get let out again, I will get him some flowers.

Forget-me-nots. Those are his favorite, right? I looked up around the cemetery. At the fence, there were two men standing, watching me. I sighed. I knew that this wouldn't last long.

Silently, I said my goodbyes to Lukas, and started to walk back to the car. I passed the family on my way, and took a second to watch them. They were sitting down at a gravestone, one that looked like it was off a little child.
"Hi, Chrissy." The man said. The woman (who I assumed to be the wife and mother) wiped her eyes, and held on tightly to the children.

Before it would seem creepy for me to be staring at them, I continued to walk. I made it to the car, and without a word to the people who were watching me, I got into the car.

The drive back to the building was short, but I took my time looking around me. Glenview was a beautiful place. I wish that I could appreciate it more, that my memories weren't tainted.

While I looked out the window, my thought drifted to Pete. I hope that he has left Glenview uninjured, but knowing the gang, I can't be too sure.

As we pulled up to the building, the thought of escaping crossed my mind again. I could run away, maybe even make it out of town. But they would catch up to me, and soon. Then, people would ask questions.

I learned my lesson. I can't run away, not anymore. I can't run away from my past.